WWF – Pollution pushing Cambodia’s Irrawaddy dolphin to extinction
The WWF is reporting that pollution in South East Asia’s Mekong River has pushed the fresh water dolphins in Cambodia and Laos to the brink of extinction. The conservation report has been met with fierce denials from the Cambodian government and calls for the WWF to leave the area.
On the brink of extinction
The WWF say that there are as few as 64 to 76 Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong and blame the toxic levels of mercury, pesticides and other pollutants for the deaths of more than 50 calves that have died since 2003.
The conservation organisation that has been investigating the source of these environmental contaminants and examining how they entered the river, says they suspect the high levels of mercury are due to gold mining activities.
“These pollutants are widely distributed in the environment and so the source of this pollution may involve several countries through which the Mekong River flows,” said Verne Dove, WWF veterinary surgeon in a press statement.
Dove further added that the remaining Irrawaddy dolphins of the Mekong River are in urgent need of a health care programme to counteract the damage done to their immune systems.
Denial and accusations
In response to the WWF’s finding the Cambodian government has angrily disputed the agencies findings, accusing the report of being based upon flawed research methodology. Government officials responsible for the country’s Irrawaddy dolphins allege there to be “about 150-160” dolphins left in the Mekong.
“It’s big trouble — they (the WWF) should resign. They should leave Cambodia,” said Touch Seang Tana, chairman of Cambodia’s Commission to Conserve Mekong River Dolphins and Develop Eco-tourism.
“They published this without consulting me, and I’m the authority here,” he said, he also added that he did not believe the river contained the pollutants listed in the WWF’s report.
Another risk for the Irrawaddy dolphin highlighted in the WWF report is inbreeding resulting from such low population numbers. It is thought that this may have been a contributing factor to the weak immune systems of the young dead dolphins, all of which were under two weeks old.
“The Mekong River dolphins are isolated from other members of their species and they need our help,” said WWF Cambodia country director Seng Teak, adding the mammals “can show remarkable resilience” if their habitat is protected.
The dolphin and the river
The Mekong River flows through Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, once home to thousands of Irrawaddy dolphins , the species was listed as critically endangered in 2004.
The dolphin inhabits a 190-kilometer stretch of water in Cambodia and Laos where it is considered to be a sacred animal. Despite this numbers have dramatically dropped due to the use of illegal fishing nets and Cambodia’s long civil conflict, under which dolphin blubber was used to lubricate machine parts and fuel lamps.
In recent years the Cambodian government has been promoting dolphin watching as a form of ecotourism in the region and cracked down on the use of illegal fishing nets. It hopes that these measures alongside establishing protecting areas will lead to an increase in their numbers over the next few years.
The Irrawaddy dolphin population of Cambodia is thought to be the largest surviving group of Irawaddy dolphins, the Mekong river being one of only five habitats in the world that supports the species. Resembling a porpoise more than salt water dolphins the species congregates in a only a small number of the Mekong’s deep water pools.
The largest inland fishery in the world the Mekong River produces 2.5 million tonnes of fish every year worth over 2 billion dollars. The river is also the provider of 80% of the animal protein for the 60 million people that live alongside its lower basin.
On the brink of extinction
The WWF say that there are as few as 64 to 76 Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong and blame the toxic levels of mercury, pesticides and other pollutants for the deaths of more than 50 calves that have died since 2003.
The conservation organisation that has been investigating the source of these environmental contaminants and examining how they entered the river, says they suspect the high levels of mercury are due to gold mining activities.
“These pollutants are widely distributed in the environment and so the source of this pollution may involve several countries through which the Mekong River flows,” said Verne Dove, WWF veterinary surgeon in a press statement.
Dove further added that the remaining Irrawaddy dolphins of the Mekong River are in urgent need of a health care programme to counteract the damage done to their immune systems.
Denial and accusations
In response to the WWF’s finding the Cambodian government has angrily disputed the agencies findings, accusing the report of being based upon flawed research methodology. Government officials responsible for the country’s Irrawaddy dolphins allege there to be “about 150-160” dolphins left in the Mekong.
“It’s big trouble — they (the WWF) should resign. They should leave Cambodia,” said Touch Seang Tana, chairman of Cambodia’s Commission to Conserve Mekong River Dolphins and Develop Eco-tourism.
“They published this without consulting me, and I’m the authority here,” he said, he also added that he did not believe the river contained the pollutants listed in the WWF’s report.
Another risk for the Irrawaddy dolphin highlighted in the WWF report is inbreeding resulting from such low population numbers. It is thought that this may have been a contributing factor to the weak immune systems of the young dead dolphins, all of which were under two weeks old.
“The Mekong River dolphins are isolated from other members of their species and they need our help,” said WWF Cambodia country director Seng Teak, adding the mammals “can show remarkable resilience” if their habitat is protected.
The dolphin and the river
The Mekong River flows through Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, once home to thousands of Irrawaddy dolphins , the species was listed as critically endangered in 2004.
The dolphin inhabits a 190-kilometer stretch of water in Cambodia and Laos where it is considered to be a sacred animal. Despite this numbers have dramatically dropped due to the use of illegal fishing nets and Cambodia’s long civil conflict, under which dolphin blubber was used to lubricate machine parts and fuel lamps.
In recent years the Cambodian government has been promoting dolphin watching as a form of ecotourism in the region and cracked down on the use of illegal fishing nets. It hopes that these measures alongside establishing protecting areas will lead to an increase in their numbers over the next few years.
The Irrawaddy dolphin population of Cambodia is thought to be the largest surviving group of Irawaddy dolphins, the Mekong river being one of only five habitats in the world that supports the species. Resembling a porpoise more than salt water dolphins the species congregates in a only a small number of the Mekong’s deep water pools.
The largest inland fishery in the world the Mekong River produces 2.5 million tonnes of fish every year worth over 2 billion dollars. The river is also the provider of 80% of the animal protein for the 60 million people that live alongside its lower basin.
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